FOULING GOD'S GOOD NAME
"That's a lie," the serpent hissed. "You'll not die! God knows very well that the instant you eat it you will become like Him . . ." Genesis 3: 4,5 AMP
The serpent has continually worked at fouling God's good name. He accuses God of the very thing that he is--a liar. The serpent slyly tempts Eve to believe God is not good and is withholding good from Adam and herself. He hints that behind God's commandment is a selfish motive. The serpent craftily fans Eve's desire to lust and Eve gets carried away to sin.
It is usually in our formative years, birth to 9 years of age, that we are open-hearted and naive about the world into which we've been born. We enter life expecting to be safe and cared for, valued and protected. But, there is a serpent loose and sin has corrupted the human nature. The earth is not a garden any longer. It was in a garden that mankind decided not to do God's will; and, it was in a garden that the Son of Man battled the serpent and sin, and, determined to do God's will. In that garden the works of the devil and the power of sin were destroyed. Freedom and life were once again offered to mankind (See Matt. 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22: 39-46; John 18:1). You will notice I used the word "offered" because, although Jesus Christ came that man might be forgiven their sins and freed to do God's will, man can still choose to listen and obey the serpent. He can still allow the lusts of his flesh to carry him into the bondage of sin once more.
Even those who call themselves Christians can foul God's good name by harboring "secret" sins, both petty and heinous. How important is it then that we keep a diligent watch over our hearts, minds and mouths, allowing the grace of God to cleanse us from unrighteousness and conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29; see also Romans 12:2). Think about it.
"That's a lie," the serpent hissed. "You'll not die! God knows very well that the instant you eat it you will become like Him . . ." Genesis 3: 4,5 AMP
The serpent has continually worked at fouling God's good name. He accuses God of the very thing that he is--a liar. The serpent slyly tempts Eve to believe God is not good and is withholding good from Adam and herself. He hints that behind God's commandment is a selfish motive. The serpent craftily fans Eve's desire to lust and Eve gets carried away to sin.
It is usually in our formative years, birth to 9 years of age, that we are open-hearted and naive about the world into which we've been born. We enter life expecting to be safe and cared for, valued and protected. But, there is a serpent loose and sin has corrupted the human nature. The earth is not a garden any longer. It was in a garden that mankind decided not to do God's will; and, it was in a garden that the Son of Man battled the serpent and sin, and, determined to do God's will. In that garden the works of the devil and the power of sin were destroyed. Freedom and life were once again offered to mankind (See Matt. 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22: 39-46; John 18:1). You will notice I used the word "offered" because, although Jesus Christ came that man might be forgiven their sins and freed to do God's will, man can still choose to listen and obey the serpent. He can still allow the lusts of his flesh to carry him into the bondage of sin once more.
Even those who call themselves Christians can foul God's good name by harboring "secret" sins, both petty and heinous. How important is it then that we keep a diligent watch over our hearts, minds and mouths, allowing the grace of God to cleanse us from unrighteousness and conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29; see also Romans 12:2). Think about it.
© S.M. Hudson, Hidden Treasure Ministries, December 2003. All rights reserved.
Categories: forgiveness
